U.S. to permit meat inspections

Japan  U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said this week that the United States would accept Japan's request for regular inspections of beef-processing plants even after U.S. beef imports resume.

"If Japan wants to have somebody do additional inspections, if they want to reinspect the plants, if they want to do spot checks, we're very flexible," Johanns told The Yomiuri Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper.

Tokyo reimposed the ban on U.S. beef imports after a flaw was found in U.S. measures against mad cow disease just after the imports were resumed, with prohibited material showing up in shipments to Japan.

Johanns said he would expect the U.S. to allow inspections after lifting the ban.